Dreamland
MARGATE
Save Dreamland Update October 2010
This is my first Dreamland update in mechanical memories Magazine since July 2010,
and although the summer has been quiet on the Dreamland front, there is still a lot to
update you on.
We are now approaching the final stages of arrangements to transfer over half the
Dreamland site to Dreamland Trust's local authority partner, Thanet District Council,
along with a long lease to the Dreamland Trust. As soon as this is complete, we can start
work on site. A lot of people are asking why it is taking so long and why we can't just
use the funding we have secured to make a start anyway? I will try and answer that
question here.
There has been no lack of willingness to get the land transfer deal done. The current
landowner, Margate Town Centre Regeneration Company Ltd, has been very co-
operative and wants, just as much as we do, to see a successful Dreamland amusement
park around the restored Scenic Railway and Dreamland Cinema. Clearly however, they
must also have regard to their own future plans on the part of the site that they will be
retaining (i.e. the 49%) and as these become clearer so we get closer to the deal being
done. Thanet District Council is also hugely supportive and playing its part not just in
funding commitments but in terms of taking on the Dreamland amusement park site
from Margate Town Centre Regeneration Company Ltd, taking responsibility for some
of the major contract works that need to be done and, in due course, for making the site
available for Dreamland Trust to operate.
The reason we can't start physical works until the site is transferred relates to
conditions of the funders, which boils down to the fact that we can't start using public
money on physical building works until we control the land. We should, however,
shortly be in a position to go and despite the delays believe that we can be up and
running for 2012.
So what else has happened over the summer? Well, Dreamland has been in the
media's eye throughout the summer break. Last month BBC Two's Coast production
team arrived in Margate on the trail of the traditional seaside landlady. The crew spent a
morning filming the show's presenter, Alice Roberts, visiting the Scenic Railway, which
will feature in the show next year. BBC One's Country Tracks, also featuring
Dreamland, is expected to broadcast before the end of this year.
In week beginning 23 August BBC Radio Kent broadcast a special Dreamland
feature by Jo Bum each morning and BBC Radio London did a live broadcast featuring
Dreamland for the Robert Elms show on 24 August.
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